General News
19 May, 2026
$166.3m for road upgrade
THE duplication of the Cairns Western Arterial Road (CWAR) between Redlynch and the Captain Cook Highway is a step closer after the Australian Government committed an additional $166.3 million towards the project, bringing its total commitment to $382.3m.
The extra funding announced in Tuesday’s budget will include construction of section one from Lake Placid Road to Captain Cook Highway ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
But the Queensland Government has yet to confirm a start on the project. The latest update says: “This planning project is expected to be completed in mid-2026.”
Federal Member for Leichhardt Matt Smith said more than 22,000 drivers each day “rely” on CWAR.
“As our region grows, so too must our infrastructure: this section of road is a vital artery that connects the Cairns CBD to the Northern suburbs and beyond,” he said. “During the floods post-Cyclone Jasper in 2023, large sections of the Cairns Western Arterial Road were inundated and impassable. We cannot allow for that to happen again.”
